Did you know that it’s National Peanut Butter Day today? I just found out myself. So it’s the perfect day to introduce our newest flavor: Chocolate Peanut. We start with chocolate cake and chocolate buttercream and add a filling of peanut butter buttercream and roasted peanuts. Everyone we’ve mentioned this to is sold on the flavor until we mention the peanuts. We even were a bit worried about it, but Shana wanted something with peanuts so that’s what we tried. And you know what? It’s soooo delicious. I love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter in it’s many forms–Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, peanut butter cookies with Hershey kisses, Grandma Bone’s peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate, and just plain old dark chocolate with peanut butter. You just can’t go wrong with those flavors.

Making Shana’s baby shower cake, we cut off the tops of the cakes to make the even layers and then made a small sample that we could try with the peanut butter buttercream, roasted peanuts, and chocolate buttercream. It’s rich and delicious and perfect with the peanuts. I love when our clients suggest something soooo good. Thanks Shana!

Jeanne
AJ’s Moonlight Bakery

This is one of those cakes that Amy really gets into. I put together the structure to elevate the cake, then Amy went to work turning a simple cake into a cool pool table. The little balls, triangle, and cue stick looked great on the table with painted wood grain, green felt, and bumpers, and gold accents. Delivered to Cuetopia Billiard Cafe for Jeannie’s 38th birthday party, it was right at home with all of the real pool tables. I wanted to pick up the stick and start playing.

Happy Birthday Jeannie!

Jeanne
AJ’s Moonlight Bakery

There’s so much on this cake. Hailey celebrated her 13th birthday with a bunch of her good friends and her favorite things. I loved when her Mom sent pictures of Hailey at her party and the cake surrounded by all the things we made for the cake: a Victoria’s Secret hatbox, a Juicy shopping bag, a Hello Kitty wallet, a Tiffany & Co. ring box, a Jamba Juice smoothie, a Justin Beiber wristband, a U.S. Kid’s Golf ball, a Nordstrom sign, a Love Pink sign, and a Starbuck’s Coffee sign.

And these notes from Hailey and her Mom are just too sweet:

The cake is so amazing! I love it soooooooooo much! You are an AWESOME baker! You made all the objects just like they are in real life! The golf ball is amazing and I just want to make a swing at it right now! You made my 13th birthday UN-REAL! Thanks again ~ Hailey:)

Just wanted to thank you again from the bottom of my heart, the cake was terrific!!!! All the girls freaked out and just couldn’t believe how amazing the cake was. Everyone was taking pictures of it! We didn’t even want to eat it. It was the perfect 13 year old cake!! You are extremely talented. You always wow us!!!! Thanks for a great memory ~ Sheri

Awww… we couldn’t be happier. Happy Birthday Hailey!

Jeanne
AJ’s Moonlight Bakery

What’s a great day for a 49er fan? Belinda’s boyfriend brought her tailgating with this helmet cake and then they watched the 49ers demolish the Buccaneers 48-3. Now the 49ers are 4-1 for the first time since 2002. Now that’s what I call a great birthday!

Happy Birthday Belinda!

Jeanne
AJ’s Moonlight Bakery

What’s one thing that will always put a smile on Vinnie‘s face? Ah, boobs, of course! So we brought this pair to the surprise Secret Show last Friday at the Lake Chalet in Oakland. It was so cool working with Uzette from the Sarah and Vinnie show on Alice to bring the surprise boob cake. Amy’s BFF and one of AJ’s biggest supporters, Gerrie, showed Uzette our black bikini cake and suggested we could bring some boobs to Vinnie. You’ve heard Vinnie sing about boobs before, right?

That’s what was playing in my head as I imagined bringing this cake to Vinnie. Boobs!

I had no idea that at the end of the show Sarah would coax Vinnie into motorboating the boobs. You can hear her on the podcast telling Vinnie to get in there and wiggle his head in the boobs. The crowd went wild watching Vinnie play with his boobs. It was awesome.

And then he stood up and smashed his head in the cake.

Photo courtesy of Radio Alice 97.3

Vinnie actually came up to Amy at the end of the show and apologized for destroying the cake. We couldn’t have asked for anything better than exactly what happened.

Sadly, Sarah and Vinnie are on vacation this week, so we’re just listening to reruns this morning. I hope you’re enjoying your vacation and birthday, Vinnie!

Jeanne
AJ’s Moonlight Bakery

I was surprised when Amy said she wanted to make a cake for her sister, Emily while we were on vacation, but at the same time I wasn’t. It’s been a few years since we’ve traveled back to Indiana to see Amy’s family. Her parents came out to see us last year when it was her dad’s birthday. We surprised Momma and Poppa Bone with cakes when we showed off the bakery. Our vacation this year was during Amy’s birthday and right before Emily’s birthday, so I was glad Amy wanted to make a cake for her sister.

Of course that meant packing everything to make the cake. Cake pans, cake boards, a big rolling pin, fondant tools, fondant, and Mexican chocolate were in the suitcase. I wasn’t surprised to see the note that said the checked suitcase was inspected. Fondant looks like a weapon, right? Or maybe it was the rolling pin.

So a couple days into relaxing in Indiana, we made a couple Mexican chocolate round cakes and Mexican chocolate buttercream, draped it in fondant, made baubles to border the cake, and put the Colts horseshoe logo on top. Emily is a huge Colts fan. She came over to dinner with her kids who were both wearing Colts jerseys to our surprise. We couldn’t have planned that better. Look at this beautiful family.

Emily, I wish we could still be there for your birthday. We were sooo happy to celebrate a little early with you. Happy Birthday!

Jeanne
AJ’s Moonlight Bakery

On the first day of our vacation to visit Amy’s family, take a look at the shoe that I made with my brother and his wife, affectionately known in my head as the Diaz family shoe cake. Amy had the day off and my sister-in-law, Ginni, came by with my brother to help me make the cake. I was going to try to do it all on my own, but Ginni convinced me that she’ll do anything to help. She’s so awesome. And I’m so lucky. She was decorating cakes when I was still very young, so I knew she’d help a lot.

I was surprised that my brother was also interested and learned to roll fondant and decorate. They kept telling me that they were having fun and getting priceless training as I talked and demonstrated all the steps and answered questions about making a sculpted cake. They’re both foodies and have seen some cake shows. That day it was all demo and practice.

I enjoyed having them both there. And then when I delivered the cake to the bowling alley “300” in San Jose and a bunch of kids, families, and staff were excited about the cake, I was even more proud of what the three Diaz’s created. Thanks for all your help, my brother and sister!

Jeanne
AJ’s Moonlight Bakery

Are you ready for the Oscars tonight? We made this a while ago for the annual charity fundraising dinner of the local San Jose chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, Xi Xi Lambda. The women’s philanthropic group held a “Lights, Camera, Action” party so we decorated a cake for their theme. A delicious butter cake with vanilla buttercream was draped in white fondant and decorated with movie cameras, director’s boards, film reels, and black and white stars.

Now get ready to roll out the red carpet and watch the stars.

Jeanne
AJ’s Moonlight Bakery

This cheery spring cake was made for my Mom’s birthday when my aunt came to visit from Guam. Mom loves butterflies and flowers, and the bees fit right in with the scene.

Love you Mom!

Jeanne
AJ’s Moonlight Bakery

We made this cake a couple years ago and I laughed at the message, “R.I.P. Ernie. Happy 40th Birthday!” Now all my friends are turning 40, and so am I. Hmmm… not so funny?! Well, since I was the youngest in my class, I’ll say what I always say… at least Ernie and all of my friends are older than me. Cue The Simpsons bully “Ha Ha!”

Jeanne
AJ’s Moonlight Bakery